AL Cy Young 2011: Odds For the Contenders

The American League Cy Young Award is one of the most prestigious individual honors given out in baseball. A number of pitchers have demonstrated this year that they are worthy of Cy Young votes as well as the award.

Elite pitchers have dominated the American League this year, and many of the usual suspects such as CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander have had incredible years.

5) Dan Haren

Stats: 16-9, 3.16 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 184 K

Dan Haren is currently fourth in the American League in wins and has the tenth-lowest ERA in the AL this year. However, Haren will likely lose some votes because he is not even the best pitcher on his team.

Since being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle of the 2010 season, Haren has really found his groove with the Los Angeles Angels. Haren has thrown a career-high three shutouts this year.

Odds: 15:1

4) C.J. Wilson

Stats: 16-7, 2.97 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 206 K

The Texas Rangers needed a starter to step up this year after the team lost Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies. C.J. Wilson has taken advantage of this opportunity.

The former reliever was selected to the All-Star Game after a strong first half. Wilson is tied for fourth in the American League in wins and he ranks sixth in both strikeouts and ERA.

Odds: 10:1

3) Jered Weaver

Stats: 18-7, 2.41 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 190 K

Early on this season, it looked as if Jered Weaver had a chance to finish the year with an ERA under 2.00. While his ERA has risen a bit since then, it has not prevented him from being one of the American League's top pitchers.

It seems as if Weaver has gotten better and better as his career has progressed. He is third in the American League in wins this season and seventh in strikeouts. Weaver also boasts the AL's second-lowest ERA.

Odds: 5:1

2) CC Sabathia

Stats: 19-8, 3.00 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 230 K

In most other years, CC Sabathia would be having a good enough season to win the AL Cy Young Award. However, despite his stellar numbers this season, he will likely fall short.

The New York Yankees ace is second in the American League in both wins and strikeouts. He is also the owner of the AL's eighth lowest ERA. Sabathia has undoubtedly earned himself a big payday if he chooses to opt out of his contract at the end of the year.

Odds: 4:1

1) Justin Verlander

Stats: 24-5, 2.29 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 244 K

Incredible. That is really the only way to describe the season that Justin Verlander is having this year for the Detroit Tigers. He is putting together one of the best pitching seasons of the decade.

Verlander is on pace to win the American League pitching triple crown this season. In addition to this, he also has the lowest WHIP in the MLB. At this point, it would be a shock if Verlander did not win the American League Cy Young.

Odds: 1:1